Bangladesh urges regional economic integration, proposes strategic partnership with India’s northeast, Nepal, and Bhutan

In a bold push for regional cooperation, Bangladesh's Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus has called for the creation of an integrated economic strategy involving Bangladesh, India’s northeastern states, Nepal, and Bhutan.

Yunus emphasized that regional collaboration — particularly in energy, healthcare, and infrastructure—holds the key to mutual growth and prosperity.

Speaking at a meeting with Indira Rana, Deputy Speaker of Nepal’s House of Representatives, Yunus underscored the benefits of a united economic approach. “We have more to gain together than apart,” he stated, referencing India’s seven northeastern states — known as the “Seven Sisters”— and neighboring nations Nepal and Bhutan.

The discussion centered on expanding regional energy cooperation, with a specific focus on hydropower. One highlight was the Bangladesh-Nepal-India tripartite agreement from October of the previous year, which allows Bangladesh to import 40 MW of power from Nepal via Indian transmission lines. Both parties expressed interest in scaling up hydropower initiatives across the region to meet growing energy demands.

Yunus also extended Bangladesh’s commitment to enhancing healthcare access for neighboring countries. He highlighted the upcoming 1,000-bed hospital in Rangpur, which will be open to patients from both Nepal and Bhutan, reinforcing Bangladesh’s belief in regional health security. “We believe in shared prosperity, and that extends to the health and well-being of our neighbors,” Yunus added.

In response, Deputy Speaker Rana emphasized Nepal’s eagerness to deepen bilateral ties, expressing a strong desire among Nepali parliamentarians to strengthen economic cooperation and people-to-people connections.

She noted that over 2,700 Nepali students are currently studying in Bangladesh, primarily in medical fields, and called for more academic exchanges to deepen the educational partnership between the two nations.

The meeting also touched on improving road connectivity across the region, with both sides agreeing that better infrastructure would lower trade costs and facilitate the movement of goods and people, enhancing regional commerce and collaboration.

Yunus’s vision for northeast India

This latest call for regional cooperation comes after a series of comments by Yunus regarding the strategic importance of India’s northeastern states. During his visit to China in March, Yunus suggested that Bangladesh could play a pivotal role in linking India’s “Seven Sisters” with regional and global markets, emphasizing their landlocked nature. He proposed that China might benefit from engaging more directly with Bangladesh as a gateway to this underdeveloped region, positioning Bangladesh as a key economic partner for both China and India.

Yunus’s remarks, which also emphasized Bangladesh's role as a “guardian of the ocean” in the region, sparked sharp reactions from Indian officials and analysts, who flagged concerns about growing Chinese influence in the area.

With key locations in Bangladesh in close proximity to India’s strategic Siliguri Corridor — an important land link for India’s northeastern states — any foreign involvement in this area is viewed with caution in New Delhi.

Despite these geopolitical tensions, Yunus remains focused on fostering regional unity through collaborative efforts. By prioritizing economic integration, shared energy resources, healthcare initiatives, and seamless transport infrastructure, Bangladesh aims to create a foundation for a stronger, more interconnected South Asia.